Percutaneous injection of metrizamide into spinal cord cysts for preoperative diagnosis of syringomyelia.

Abstract

Five cases of syringomyelia are reported in which the spinal cysts were percutaneously punctured and filled with metrizamide for preoperative diagnosis. There were no side effects from the puncture or the contrast medium. In all cases the cyst was larger than had been demonstrated by previous myelography. A communication to the fourth ventricle was seen in two cases. Four patients had surgical treatment; the neurologic deficits improved in two patients, while the condition of the others has remained unchanged.